Stop for sprinkler-heads.



No. 890,356. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

c. L. GRODE. STOP FOR SPRINKLER-HEADS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1907.

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WCflJ M: A M x ATTORNEY.

PETERS 0b.. WASHINGTON, a c.

I elevation of the sto CHARLES L. GRODE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

STOP FOR SPRINKLER-HEADS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Application filed August 16, 1907. Serial No. 388,917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. GRoDE, a cltizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and I State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stops for Sprinkler-Heads, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to stops or plugs for the head of automatic fire extinguishers or sprinklers, and has for its objects, besides the ends commonly sought in this class of devices, a structure which is ada ted to fulfil the requirements of a combined and fusibly operative device; and a device capable of suitable insertion and adjustment in any size of sprinkler head.

Further objects are simplicity, strength, convenience, and certainty of operation.

To the above ends my invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and set forth in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel stop applied to a s rinkler head, the latter being shown partially in section Fig. 2, a like shown independent of the sprinkler head, isclosing the side of the stop opposite the side shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, a plan of the same, Fig. 4, a section on line as r of Fig. 2, Fig. 5, a perspective view of the stop head, and Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, detail views of the various interlocking members of the stop.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

My novel device is described and illustrated as a plied to a sprinkler head mounted ufirightly ut is obviously adapted without 0 ange of form to a sprinkler head which is downwardly directed or inclined.

In the drawings is shown the usual sprinkler head comprising the usual screw 1, holder 2, retaining ring 3, diaphragm 4 provided with a circular opening 5, arch 6, and seat or bearing 7.

My novel device com rises a fiat vertical plate 8, shown in deta' in Fig. 6, having a curved portion 9 provided with a central perforation 10. The upper end has rectangular lateral lugs or ears 1 1 and an intermediate slot 12. Mountedu onthebottomoftheplate8is a hollow hemisp erical stop head 13 having a transverse bar or pin 14. The latter traverses the opening 10 of the plate 8, and the adjacent their hinged ends, as at 38.

interior of the head conforms to the outline of the curved portion 9 of the plate 8. This particular form of head and connection with the plate is advantageous but not exclusive.

Resting upon the supporting plate 8 is a vertical connecting member or plate 15, shown in detail in Fig. 7. This plate has intermediate its length a reetangularly offset portion or shoulder 16 whereby is produced oppositely directed parallel flat fingers 17.

and 18. The upper finger, 17, is provided with an opening 19. In assembling the parts the offset or shoulder 16 rests loosely upon the plate 9 in its slot 12; the finger 18 resting against the face of the plate 9; and the finger 17 resting against the face of a hinged plate 20 which is shown in detail in Fig. 8. The plate 20 is provided in its top and bottom margins with rectangular notches 21 and 22 respectively; and at one end, with a pivot perforation 23. The portions of the plate upon each side of the notch 22 are bent latera ly to form lugs or hooks 24. Upon the end of the plate opposite the perforation 23 is a lateral ear 25 provided with a threaded opening 26. In assembling, the lugs 24 rest against the bottoms ofears 11 the notch 22 accommodates the offset or hooked portion 28 of a locking plate 29, shown in detail in Fig. 9. This plate has a broad body portion, 30, integral with the offset portion 28, and the latter is provided with a lip 31 being in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the body portion 30. The portions 28 and 31 form a hook adapted to enter the opening 19 ofthe plate 17 and engages this plate. The body30 is fixed to the plate 20 by solder, as at 32 in Fig. 4. The solder is fusible .at a predetermined degree of tem perature.

A pivot pin 33 passing through the perforation 23 connects the hinged plate 20 with the end of an arm 34. This arm is preferably formed by plates 35, 35, of similar contour connected together by rivets 36, 36, but interspaced midway their lengths as at 37, zlipld e pivoted ends of the plates 35 are curved for some distance; the curves ending in marginal depressions or cavities 39, 39, in vertical alinment with the stop head 13. The free end 40 of the arm 34 is sufficiently extended to form a comfortable hand held. Obviously the arm 34 may be composed of a single piece of material rather than of two riveted plates, it being understood that the opening 37 is to be preservedtherethrough. Mounted in the opening 37 in the arm 34 is an adjusting thumb screw 41 comprising a head 42, shoulders, 43, above and below the lever, and threads 44 upon its lower portion. The threaded portion of the screw 41 engages the threads of the opening 26, whereby the rotation of the screw causes the plate and arm 34 to approach or recede from each other.

The stop mechanism, assembled as above set forth, is introduced into the sprinkler head as follows. The screw 41 is manually rotated to contract the pivoted or hinged parts 34 and 20 su'l'liciently to insert the head 13 into the discharge orifice 5 in the sprinkler head, and bring the depressions 39 of the arm 34 beneath the bearing or valve seat of the sprinkler yoke. The screw is then turned in the opposite direction, expanding the parts and holding the same rigidly in position intermediate the seat '7 and diaphragm 4.

If, while my stop device is mounted as above described, the temperature reaches the degree essential for fusing the solder 32, the member 29 will be released, and the pres sure of the water will force the plates 8, and 15 upwardly thereby disengaging the hooks 1S and 31, and disassembling the stop parts. The sprinkler head then performs its usual functions.

It will thus be observed that my novel stop performs the double functions of a stop and automatic sprinkler, and is adapted, by reason of the adjusting means, to any size sprinkler head occasion may require.

I Vhile solder is shown only between two of the plates the same may be applied to other plates of my structure without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is,

1. In a sprinkler stop, the combination of a head, a bearing arm, and interlocking plates intermediate the head and bearing arm for disconnecting the head and arm under a predetermined degree of temperature.

2. In a sprinkler stop, the combination of a head, a bearing arm, and overlapping plates connecting the head and bearing arm, and solder between the faces of two or more of the plates.

3. In a sprinkler stop, the combination of a head, a bearing arm, and a series of interengaging plates pivotally fixed to the bearing arm and connected with the head, and solder between two or more of the plates.

4. In a sprinkler stop, the combination of a supporting plate, a stophead mounted upon one end of the plate, ears upon the supporting plate, a hinged plate, lugs upon the hinged plate engaging the ears, a bearin arm, a pivot member connecting the hinge plate and bearing arm, means for frictionally engaging the supporting plate and hinged plate, and a locking plate soldered to the hinged plate and engaging the friction engaging means.

5. In a sprinkler stop, the combination of a head, and a bearing arm, a hinged plate pivotally connected with the bearing arm, plates connecting the hinged plates and head, and means in the bearing arm and engaging the hinged member for adjusting the arm and hinged member.

6. In a sprinkler stop, the combinationof a head, bearing arm, a hinged plate pivotally connected with the bearing arm, plates connecting the hinged plate and head, and an adjusting screw connecting the bearing arm and hinged plate.

7. In a sprinkler stop, the combination of a head, and a bearing arm, a hinged plate pivotally connected with the bearin arm, plates connecting the hinged plate an head, solder between the connecting plates, and means connecting the hinged plate and bearing arm for moving the hinged plate and arm towards and away'from each other.

S. In a sprinkler stop, the combination of a supporting plate, a stop head mounted upon one end of the plate, ears upon the supporting plate, a hinged plate, lugs upon the hinged plate engaging the ears a connecting plate resting upon the supporting plate provided with an offset portion intermediate its length, and provided with an opening, a locking plate having a body portion adjacent the hinged plate, and a hook portion passing through said opening, solder between the hinged plate and the body portion of the locking plate, a bearing arm, a pivot pin connecting the lever arm with one end of the hinged plate, and a screw connecting the lelver arm with the opposite end of the hinged p ate.

9. The combination with the head, a bearing arm provided with a cavity in alinement with the head, a hinged plate pivotally connected at one end to the bearing arm, a screw connecting the other end of the hinged plate with the bearing arm, and interlocking p%ates connecting the head with the hinged p ate.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. GRODE.

Witnesses:

IIORATIO E. BELLOWS, WALTER E. GO DWIN. 

